The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

 

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. Peter Sís. New York: Frances Foster Books, 2007. 50 pages. $18.00 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-374-34701-7. Grades 4-10.

PROHIBITED. COMPULSORY. DISCOURAGED. Young adults will quickly learn the meaning and significance of these three words as they learn what it was like growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Award winning illustrator Peter Sís artfully blends illustrations, personal journal entries, and history to retell his experiences living in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. He comments on the mandatory support of government, stifled and censored arts, religious practice, and life; as well as learning about what was really going on. Sís also shares the secret pleasures of rock and roll and other western ideals that made it through to help youth during such a dark time. The masterful illustrations depict the tone of Sís’s world, as well as the political climate. Color is used symbolically and each illustration holds layers and layers of detail and information. Readers will find themselves caught in between the main story and the confusing personal dilemma and political revolution taking places in the illustrations. An informative introduction offers some background information and a conclusive afterword answers questions and draws links to his life and current experiences with Prague. The Wall is an informative, personal look at a tumultuous historical time and would make a great teaching tool for a variety of ages. Recommended  

My Thoughts…

My first initial thought for this and several other historical fiction/nonfiction titles has been: I really should have paid attention in history class. In this case, however, I am glad that I didn’t know much about the Cold War because I found myself interested in every detail of each illustration and every piece of the story. I felt like I was the young Sís learning about the monstrosities for the first time. I was also pleased to know who Peter Sís was prior to this book, having seen his illustrations in The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I was interested to see, however, that the illustrations in this book were very different, not only in the obvious subject way, but also in the style way. I really enjoyed the contrast in the large, color illustrations and then the small comic like black and whites (and reds). I loved the way Sís used color symbolically, and I really loved the mixed media frames around the entries from his childhood journal. I found this very short, yet very informative and powerful picture book especially great because it was very personal. Sís managed to give his personal story with his experiences and thoughts while also sharing what was going on in general at the time. I was appalled at a lot of the history that I wasn’t really aware of and think young adults would have a similar reaction.

I find it interesting that I am not an education major when I read books because I always manage to plan lessons or activities around what I’ve been reading. I wonder if it is because I wasn’t challenged enough when I was in school or if I still miss being in a classroom and doing fun things. I would love to incorporate this book in to a middle or high school class, for example, because it is covers and blends so many topics (art, history, literature, music). I couldn’t help thinking how cool it would be to have a history class learn about the Cold War or any other historical period and do research about the experiences of children/teens during that time. Then they could make a journal and/or a comic based on the experience. They could write their own, well researched though fictional story. I did enjoy this book and I love picture books and am glad that there are those out there that aren’t just for children.

Potential Reaction…

I hate to make grand generalizations, but when teenagers think of picture books they often think that they are for small children. Upon seeing this book on their reading list or in a young adult section of a library many youth may roll their eyes and scoff. I think that once they opened the cover they would realize that this book is far from appropriate for children and much more appropriate for them. I think that young adults interested in or learning about history will take particular interest in this story because Sís was their age during a lot of this time and this is the experience they would have if they were his age at the time. For example, music is still a huge deal for young adults, and it may not be The Beatles like it was for Sís during the Cold War, but I am certain they could relate to smuggling CDs in order to hear their tunes. I also think the general information about the Cold War would spark the interest of readers. I can hear in my mind how upset and attitude-y teens could be at hearing they HAD to farm potatoes and HAD to do this that and the other. Today’s teens have never been government mandated to do anything and it will be amazing to see their reaction. I think the fact that Sís did paint and continue to do his art will also interest them because it is kind of reading about a rebel, which is always fun. I would hope that young adults would want to read similar stories about young people living during a different, potentially tumultuous time.

Reminds Me Of…

This story tells about a young person, around the target audience’s age about growing up in a different time and facing struggles. There are tons of books out there like this, and all the ones I have read have been truly engaging and piqued my interest in history for sure. While this particular title is a biography (nonfiction) and a picture book, it reminds me of other similar titles of different formats. One title is of course The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. This title does utilize the diary, is nonfiction, and features a young adult. This story also sheds light on the monstrosities and experiences of World War II. Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez also is written in the form of a journal and takes place in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship. It features a young girl and her family’s experiences living in fear and opposition to a corrupt government.

The Wall also reminds me of other picture books geared toward teens. Two that I have read which are not necessarily picture books but are very heavily illustrated and tell the often controversial biographies of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are Frida ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and  Diego Bigger Than Life also written by Carmen T Bernier-Grand but illustrated by David Diaz. These two books feature prominent figures and use artwork to help readers relate to the subjects.